FIRST GLIMPSE OF A WILD LION 
89 
ing-picture machine, advanced it cautiously to 
within a few yards of the unsuspecting rhino, and 
then we tried to provoke a charge. We took a 
dozen or more rhinos in this way, often approach¬ 
ing to within a few yards, and if there is any more 
exciting diversion I don’t know what it is. I’ve 
looped the loop and there is no comparison. It is 
more like being ambushed by Filipino insurgents 
—that is, it’s the same kind of excitement, with 
more danger. 
One day it was necessary to shoot a big bull 
rhino. He staggered and fell, but at once got up 
and trotted over a hill. Having wounded him, it 
was then necessary for me to follow him, which I 
did for three blazing hours. From nine o’clock till 
twelve I followed, with the sun beating down on 
the dry, grass-covered hills as though it meant to 
burn up everything beneath it. If any one had 
asked me, “Is it hot enough for you?” I should have 
answered “Yes” without a moment’s hesitation. 
The horizon shimmered in waves of heat. From 
the top of one hill I could see my rhino half a mile 
away on the slope of another. When I reached the 
slope he was a mile farther on. I began to think he 
was a mirage. For a wounded animal, with two 
five-hundred-grain shells in his shoulder, he was the 
most astonishing example of vitality I have ever 
seen. He would have been safe against a Gatling 
gun. There were more low trees a mile farther on, 
and I plodded doggedly on in the hope of getting 
a little relief from the sun. As I drew near I 
